International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Urban and Rural Literacy in Punjab and : A Comparative Current Scenario and Changes during the Last Four Decades

Vishal Singh

Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Maharishi Dayanand University, , Haryana,

Abstract: The study examines the trend of literacy and gap between urban-rural literacy (1971-2011) in comparative mode among Punjab, Haryana and India. The study also analysis the spatial pattern of literacy as well as disparity between urban-rural literacy at district level between Punjab and Haryana and reveals that Punjab has recorded almost highest total and rural literacy as well as lowest gap between urban-rural literacy during the entire time period while India has recorded highest gap between urban-rural literacy as well as lowest total and rural literacy after 1971. Haryana was backward in literacy at all levels (total, urban and rural) up to 1971 but after this period, Haryana has recorded much progress. Rural literacy in Haryana is remaining highest during 2011 census while total literacy is recorded almost same to Punjab at same time. Gap between urban-rural literacy is decreased up to significant level however; it is still high; 11 per cent in Punjab and Haryana as well as 16 per cent at national level. Mewat district of Haryana and Mansa district of Punjab are very backward in literacy almost all levels. , , Fatehabad and districts of Haryana as well as almost western and southern districts of Punjab, contain low literacy.

Keywords: Comparative Trend of Literacy and Gap between Urban-Rural Literacy, Spatial Pattern and Disparity in Literacy by Residence

1. Introduction Haryana has 21 districts at the time of census (2011) enumeration. Punjab is extended from 29° 30' north to 32° According to Indian census, literacy is defined as the ability 32' north latitudes and 73° 55’ east to 76° 50' east longitudes of people to read and write a simple message in any while Haryana is stretched from 27° 39' north to 30°55'5’’ language with some understanding. It is not mandatory that north latitudes and 74° 27'8'' east to 77° 36'5'' east to be treated as a literate, a person should have received any longitudes. The west frontier of Punjab is connected with the formal education or acquired any minimum educational boundary of eastern Pakistan while the Ravi, before running standard. Literacy status can be acquired through adult into Pakistan, is now the most western river of the Indian literacy classes or by attending any non-formal education Punjab. Jammu & Kashmir is located in north of Punjab. system. Persons who are unfortunately blind and read in Himachal Pradesh is situated in north- east of Punjab while Braille are also treated as literates. From 1991 census, Haryana is situated in the east of Punjab. Similarly, Uttar children below seven years are ignored when working out Pradesh is situated in the east of Haryana while Haryana literacy rate in the country and the population aged seven adjoining with national capital. is located in south years and above only would be classified as literate or of Punjab and Haryana. Geographically, Ghaggar river illiterate. The proportion of literate persons in a population is makes the south-west boundary of Haryana which divides known as literacy level and the process of dissemination of Punjab from Haryana. Siwalik hills are situated in north literacy among the people in a society known as literacy Haryana. River flows in east of Haryana which transition. Literacy is related to all type of development separates Uttar Prades from Haryana. Arawali hills are which prepares the individual for full participation in a situated in south Haryana. rapidly changing social and economic order. Better literate person is more likely to secure qualitative employment, more earnings, long and healthy life, cleaner and sustainable environment. An overall progress in literacy is necessary in a country, equally important is its distributional spread in all its areas – towns and villages, social classes and the two sexes (Gosal, 1979). The status of literacy is varied significantly across different regions and different communities depending on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics as well as on the magnitude and direction of modernization, urbanization and industrialization. In this context, the study examines the status of literacy between Punjab and Haryana in comparative mode.

2. Study Area

Punjab and Haryana states are located on the north-western side of Indian Union. Punjab consists 20 districts and Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2242 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391

Figure 1

3. Objectives of the Study trend of literacy and gap between urban-rural literacy as well as spatial pattern of literacy and disparity between urban-  To examine comparative trend of literacy (1971-2011) at rural literacy at district level. the levels of total, urban and rural as well as gap between urban-rural literacy among Punjab, Haryana and India. It is notable that literacy rates for 1971 census are related to  To represent the comparative spatial pattern of literacy at population aged five years and above while the literacy rates district level between Punjab and Haryana. for the 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 censuses are related to  To identify disparity between urban-rural literacy at population aged seven years and above. Data have been district level. analyzed keeping state and district as a unit of observation. Requisite maps have been drawn with the help of Arc GIS software. To measure disparity between urban-rural literacy; 4. Data and Methodology following formula has been used –

In this study, data have collected from Census of India 1971, URLDI = (ULR - RLR) / TLR Social and Cultural Tables, Series 1, Part II- C (ii). Census Here, of India 1981, Social and Cultural Tables, Series (1), Part URLDI = urban-rural literacy differential index IV-A. Census of India 1991, Socio-Cultural Tables, Vol. – 2, ULR = urban literacy rate Series (1), Part IV, A-C Series. Census of India 2001, Social RLR = rural literacy rate and Cultural Tables, Table C- 8. Census of India 2011, TLR = total literacy rate Provisional population Totals, Paper 1 and 2. for showing

Table 1 Literacy Rate and Gap in Literacy by Residence State and Country Literacy Rate and Gap in Literacy by Residence 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 Total 34.45 43.57 52.21 64.84 74.04 Urban 60.22 67.23 73.08 79.92 84.98 India Rural 27.89 36.01 44.69 58.74 68.91 Gap between Urban- Rural Literacy Rate 32.33 31.22 28.39 21.18 16.07 Total 38.69 48.17 58.51 69.65 76.68 Urban 59.97 64.96 72.08 79.1 83.7 Punjab Rural 32.02 41.73 52.77 64.72 72.45 Gap between Urban- Rural Literacy Rate 27.95 23.23 19.31 14.38 11.25 Total 31.91 43.88 55.85 67.91 76.64 Urban 58.89 66.83 73.66 79.16 83.83 Haryana Rural 25.92 41.1 49.85 63.19 72.74 Gap between Urban- Rural Literacy Rate 32.97 25.73 23.81 15.97 11.09

Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2243 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Source: Census of India 1971, Social and Cultural Tables, Census of India 2011, Provisional population Totals, Paper 1 Series 1, Part II - C (ii). and 2. Census of India 1981 Social and Cultural Tables, Series (1), Part IV- A. Note: literacy rates for 1971 census are related to population Census of India 1991, Socio-Cultural Tables, Vol. – 2, aged five years and above while the literacy rates for the Series (1), Part IV, A-C Series. 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 censuses are related to the Census of India 2001, Social and Cultural Tables, Table C- population aged seven years and above. 8.

Trend of Literacy Rural literacy in Punjab is remaining almost highest during Punjab has recorded highest total literacy during the entire the entire time period while after 1971; it is remaining time period (1971 to 2011). After 1971; it is remaining lowest in India. In Punjab; it has increased 40 per cent, from lowest in India. In Punjab; it has increased almost 38 per 32.02 per cent to 72.45 per cent. In Haryana; it has increased cent, from 38.69 per cent to 76.68 per cent. In Haryana; it almost 47 per cent, from 25.92 per cent to 72.74 per cent has increased almost 45 per cent, from 31.91 per cent to while in India; it has increased 41 per cent, from 27.89 per 76.64 per cent while in India; it has increased almost 40 per cent to 68.91 per cent. cent, from 34.45 per cent to 74.04 per cent. Gap between urban-rural literacy is remaining almost lowest Urban is remaining almost highest during in Punjab during the entire time period while it was highest the entire time period. After 1971; it is remaining lowest in in Haryana during the 1971 census but after this, it is Punjab however; during the last two decades, it is remaining remaining highest in India. In Punjab; it has decreased almost same to Haryana. In India; it has increased almost 25 almost 17 per cent, from 27.95 per cent to 11.25 per cent. In per cent, from 60.22 per cent to 84.98 per cent. In Haryana; Haryana; it has decreased almost 22 per cent, from 32.97 per it has increased almost 25 per cent, from 58.89 per cent to cent to 11.09 per cent while in India; it has decreased 16 per 83.83 per cent while in Punjab; it has increased almost 24 cent, from 32.33 per cent to 16.07 per cent. per cent, from 59.97 per cent to 83.70 per cent.

Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2244 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Table 2 Literacy Rate and Disparity in Literacy by Residence in Haryana : 2011 State/Districts Total Literacy Rate Urban Literacy Rate Rural Literacy Rate Value of Urban-Rural Literacy Differential Index Haryana 76.64 83.83 72.74 0.14 83.44 88.25 77.45 0.13 Ambala 82.89 88.15 78.64 0.11 78.93 85.04 74.96 0.13 76.7 84.87 73.3 0.15 Kaithal 70.56 78.52 68.29 0.15 76.44 83.94 73.1 0.14 77.46 81.37 74.09 0.09 80.83 86.02 78.53 0.09 72.73 81.37 70.16 0.15 Fatehabad 69.13 79.22 66.73 0.18 Sirsa 70.35 80.77 66.9 0.2 73.24 80.08 70.02 0.14 76.74 82.91 75.2 0.1 Rohtak 80.37 83.56 78.03 0.07 Jhajjar 80.83 86.42 78.92 0.09 Mahendragarh 78.87 83.8 78.04 0.07 82.23 86.13 80.87 0.06 84.44 85.94 81.1 0.06 Mewat 56.14 71.78 54.01 0.32 83.04 84.87 75.72 0.11 Palwal 70.32 78.3 67.87 0.15 Source: census of India 2011, Provisional population Totals, paper 1 and 2.

Literacy and Disparity between Urban-Rural Literacy per cent in Hoshiarpur. Disparity between urban-rural literacy is presented by urban-rural literacy differential Total literacy rate in Haryana varies from 56.14 per cent in index. Value of urban-rural literacy differential index in Mewat to 84.44 per cent in Gurgaon while in Punjab; it Punjab is found almost same to Haryana. Mewat district varies from 62.78 per cent in Mansa to 85.43 per cent in (0.32) of Haryana has recorded highest differential while Hoshiarpur. Urban literacy in Haryana varies from 71.78 S.B.S.Nagar district (0.04) of Punjab has lowest differential per cent in Mewat to 88.25 per cent in Panchkula while in among the districts of both state. In Haryana; lowest Punjab; it varies from 75.39 per cent in Barnala to 88.90 per differential is recorded in Rewari and Gurgaon (0.06) while cent in S.A.S. Nagar. Rural literacy in Haryana varies from Mansa district (0.28) has recorded highest differential in 54.01 per cent in Mewat to 81.10 per cent in Gurgaon while overall Punjab. in Punjab; it varies from 58.99 per cent in Mansa to 84.55

Table 3 Literacy Rate and Disparity in Literacy by Residence in Punjab : 2011 State/Districts Total Literacy Rate Urban Literacy Rate Rural Literacy Rate Value of Urban-Rural Literacy Differential Index Punjab 76.68 83.7 72.45 0.15 Gurdaspur 81.06 88 78.25 0.12 Kapurthala 80.18 85.82 77.13 0.11 Jalandhar 82.4 85.1 79.33 0.07 Hoshiarpur 85.43 88.67 84.55 0.05 S.B.S.Nagar 80.33 82.74 79.72 0.04 Fatehgarh Sahib 80.33 84.33 78.56 0.07 Ludhiana 82.54 84.83 79.26 0.07 Moga 71.55 80.39 69.04 0.16 Firozpur 69.85 79.77 66.08 0.2 Muktsar 66.79 77.02 62.82 0.21 Faridkot 70.65 79.29 65.95 0.19 Bathinda 69.57 80.8 63.31 0.25 Mansa 62.78 76.82 58.99 0.28 Patiala 76.26 85.19 70.14 0.2 Amritsar 77.2 84.36 68.76 0.2 Tarn Taran 69.43 78.12 68.16 0.14 Rupnagar 83.28 87.04 81.95 0.06 S.A.S.Nagar 84.87 88.9 79.91 0.11 Sangrur 68.88 75.84 65.75 0.15 Barnala 68.9 75.39 65.89 0.14 Source: census of India 2011, Provisional population Totals, paper 1 and 2.

Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2245 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391

Figure 6

Figure 7

Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2246 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391

Figure 8

Figure 9

Spatial Pattern of Total Literacy south-eastern districts (exclude Patiala district) of Punjab Districts of Haryana which are situated near to national have high literacy rate Due to effect of urbanization and capital (include Ambala, Panchkula) as well as north to industrialization; these parts are very highly literate. Except Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2247 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Mewat and Fatehabad; rest part of Haryana and Amritsar, Haryana was backward in literacy at all levels (total, urban Moga, Faridkot and Patiala districts of Punjab have and rural) up to 1971 but after this period, Haryana has moderate literacy. A clear picture of districts that contain recorded much progress. Rural literacy in Haryana is low literacy; is raised in western to southern part of Punjab. remaining highest during 2011 census while total literacy is Fatehabad district of Haryana also contains low literacy recorded almost same to Punjab at same time. while Mewat has very low literacy. Gap between urban-rural literacy is decreased up to Spatial Pattern of Urban Literacy significant level however; it is still high; 11 per cent in In Haryana; northern districts and almost districts which are Punjab and Haryana as well as 16 per cent at national level. situated around to national capital as well as northern and eastern frontier districts (include Kapurthala and Jalandhar Districts of Haryana which are situated around to national districts) of Punjab have very high urban literacy. Except capital (include Ambala and Panchkula) as well as Districts Kaithal, Fatehabad, Mewat and Palwal; rest part of Haryana of Punjab which are situated north to south-east side (except as well as central districts (include Amritsar, Bathinda) of Patiala district) have high literacy almost all levels. Punjab have high literacy. Kaithal, Fatehabad and Palwal districts of Haryana as well as western and southern districts Mewat district of Haryana and Mansa district of Punjab are of Punjab contain moderate literacy while Mewat district of very backward in literacy almost all levels while Palwal, Haryana contains low literacy. Kaithal, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts of Haryana as well as almost western and southern districts of Punjab, contain low Spatial Pattern of Rural Literacy literacy. Rewari and Gurgaon districts of Haryana as well as Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar districts of Punjab have recorded Value of urban-rural literacy differential index is found very high literacy. North to south-east part (except Patiala) almost same in Punjab and Haryana. Very high disparity of Punjab as well as Ambala, Panchkula and south part of between urban-rural literacy is found in Mewat district of Haryana (except Mewat and Palwal) also contain high Haryana and Mansa district of Punjab. Almost entire literacy. Northern side half part of Haryana (include Palwal) western and southern districts of Punjab contain high and entire western and southern districts of Punjab (except differential while central and north-eastern part of Punjab as Mansa, Bathinda and Muktsar ) contain moderate literacy. well as districts of Haryana which are situated around to Muktsar and Bathinda districts of Punjab have low literacy national capital (include Rewari and Mahendragarh) have while Mewat district of Haryana and Mansa district of very low differential. Punjab contain very low literacy. References Spatial Pattern of Urban-Rural Literacy Differential Disparity between urban-rural literacy is presented by [1] Biradar, R. R. and Jayasheela (2007): Effect of Urban-Rural Literacy Differential Index. Mewat district of Educational Inequality among Social Groups in Rural Haryana and Mansa district of Punjab have recorded very India. Journal of Rural Development, Vol. 26: 379-401. high differential while south-west part of Punjab (include [2] Census of India, 1971. Social and Cultural Tables, Amritsar and Patiala) contains high differential. Moga, Series 1, Part II- C (ii). Faridkot and Sangrur districts of Punjab as well as [3] Census of India, 1981. Social and Cultural Tables, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Jind and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana Series (1), Part IV-A. have moderate differential. Almost northern districts of [4] Census of India, 1991. Socio- Cultural Tables, Vol.-2, Haryana (include Bhiwani, Hisar, Faridabad and Palwal) as Series (1), Part IV, A-C Series. well as Gurdaspur, Tarn – Taran, Kapurthala, S.A.S. Nagar [5] Census of India, 2001. Social and Cultural Tables, and Barnala districts of Punjab contain low differential. Table C-8. Entire central and north-east part of Punjab as well as [6] Census of India, 2011. Provisional population Totals, districts of Haryana which are situated around to national Paper 1 and 2. capital (include Rewari and Mahendragarh) have very low [7] Chaudhari, U. S. (1986): Education and Social Change: differential. So, Haryana has minor better situation than Issues and Advances in Education. Delhi: Ajanta Books Punjab International. [8] Gosal, G.S. (1979): Spatial Perspective on Literacy in 5. Conclusion India. Population Geography, Vol. 1: 41-67. [9] Gupta, V. S. (2003): Basic Education for Rural Areas. Punjab has recorded almost highest total and rural literacy as Kurukshetra, January 2003: 14-16. well as lowest gap between urban-rural literacy during the [10] Hassan, M. I. (2005): Population Geography. Jaipur: entire time period while India has recorded highest gap Rawat Publications. between urban-rural literacy as well as lowest total and rural [11] Kaur, I. P. (2007): Social Gains from Female Education literacy after 1971. in India – An Inter State Analysis. Guru Nanak Journal of Sociology, Vol. 28: 129-142. Urban literacy in India is remaining almost highest during [12] Krishnan, S. R. (2002): Literacy in India: Current the entire time period. After 1971, it is recorded lowest in Scenario and Changes during the Last Decade. Punjab however; during the last two decades, it is remaining Demography India, Vol. 31: 51-64. almost same to Haryana. [13] Kumar, M. and Kumar, V. (2012): Spatial Pattern and Differential in Literacy: A District Level Analysis of Volume 6 Issue 3, March 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Paper ID: 23031711 2248 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Haryana, 2011. International Journal of Advance Research in Management and Social Sciences, Vol. 1: 137-145. [14] Panda, S. K. and Devi, S. (1988): Disparity in Decennial Growth of Literacy in Two Indian States: Analysis. Kurukshetra University Research Journal (Arts and Humanities), Vol. XXII: 23-31. [15] Peer, M. (1984): The Problem of the Educational Backwardness of Indian Muslims. Guru Nanak Journal of Sociology, Vol. 5: 66-82. [16] Rabi, A. L. (1990): Study of Factors Related to Female Illiteracy in Rural Haryana. Kurukshetra University Research Journal (Arts and Humanities), Vol. XXIV– XXV: 93-96. [17] Rajakutty, S. (2002): Primary Education in Rural Areas. Kurukshetra, October 2002: 11-20. [18] Ramachandran, V. (2009): Right to Education Act: A Comment. Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. XLIV: 155-157. [19] Sethi, R. M. (1989): Role of Non-Formal Educational Schemes in the Education and Empowerment of Women. Guru Nanak Journal of Sociology, Vol. 10: 147-154. [20] Sharma, S. (2008): Empowering Women through Education: Strategy for Sustainable Rural Development. Kurukshetra, Vol. 56: 3-7. [21] Yadav, R. S. and Panda, S. K. (2004): Role of Village Education Committees in the promotion of Primary Education in Haryana. K. U. Research Journal of Arts & Humanities, Vol. XXXVIII: 25-35.

Author Profile

Vishal Singh has done M.PHIL on topic entitled “Literacy Transition: A Comparative Study of Punjab and Haryana (1971-2011)” and now pursuing in Ph.D. on topic entitled “Educational Backwardness in India: A Geographical Analysis” from the Department of Geography, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

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